Amidst the growing Covid-19 pandemic and stay at home orders, Natalie & Jackson share the stress they experienced late in her 3rd trimester when they learn that their hospital is no longer allowing partners to accompany the laboring person. They scramble to advocate for the decision to be reversed at Mt. Sinai East and are interviewed by multiple reporters along the way. They share how they were surprised when Natalie’s water broke a few weeks before the due date. Thankfully, baby waited to come just long enough for Governor Cuomo to issue an executive order requiring partners to be allowed in labor & the immediate postpartum. They’ll share aspects of the hospital environment across Natalie’s time in the hospital that will be relevant to anyone giving birth during a pandemic, such as there being very little traffic getting to the hospital, being tested for Covid upon admission, the hospital being uncrowded, and having to wear a mask the whole time they were there.

When the Covid-19 pandemic starts getting real in March, Jackie & Michael try everything they can near their due date to help labor to start when their doctor wouldn't agree to induce until after her due date. A few days before her due date, Jackie's surprised when her water breaks. Because she sees meconium in the fluid and she was Group B Strep positive, they head to the hospital. They describe how both the induction and the pushing stage surprise them when it progresses more quickly than most. You'll hear the different ways that, in mid-March when Jackie gave birth, hospital precautions were ramping up moment-by-moment in one specific way that affected them. They also share the ways their pediatrician office's protocols changed across their first 3 visits. Jackie & Michael also talk about how valuable hiring doulas was through this journey into parenthood, even when it had to be virtual support for the actual labor.